Special Olympics Games Facts Information and Events
Special Olympics is a global nonprofit organization serving the nearly 200 million people with intellectual disabilities, with a presence in nearly 200 countries worldwide. Among their other activities, Special Olympics conducts the Special Olympics World Games every two years, alternating between Summer and Winter Games.
More than 2.5 million athletes of all ages are involved in Special Olympics sports training and competition in more than 180 countries.
The organization offers year-round training and competition in 30 Olympic-type summer and winter sports. Special Olympics often is the only place where they have an opportunity to participate in their communities and develop belief in themselves. There are more than 72 Programs in Special Olympics North America. Special Olympics North America has 544,581 athletes participating in all 30 sports offered by Special Olympics.
The Special Olympics, founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968, is composed of passionate, committed individuals from every walk of life, who recognize the value and unique gifts of people with intellectual disabilities, who together, share the common belief of dignity, equality and opportunity for all people.
The first International Special Olympics Games were held in Chicago in 1968. Anne McGlone Burke, a physical education teacher with the Chicago Park District, began with the idea for a one-time Olympic-style athletic competition for people with special needs. Burke then approached Eunice Kennedy Shriver, head of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation, to fund the event. Shriver encouraged Burke to expand on the idea and the JPK Foundation provided a grant of $25,000. More than 1,000 athletes from across the United States and Canada participated.
The first International Special Olympics Winter Games were held in February 1977 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA.
In 1988, the Special Olympics was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
International Board members include President of Iceland Olafur Grimmson; Olympic Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci; pop singer and actress Vanessa Williams; Coca Cola CEO Muhtar Kent; and First Lady of Panama Vivian Fernández de Torrijos.
Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) is the major provider of sporting opportunities for people with a learning disability and provides equality of opportunity for all athletes regardless of ability or degree of disability.
Special Olympic Games Dates:
- The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games were held on February 6 - 13 2009 in Boise, Idaho, USA.
- The 2011 Special Olympics 2011 World Summer Games will be held in Athens, Greece, on June 25- July 4, 2011.
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